Inferior setback than expected

2010. június 30.

The entire Hungarian economy started year 2009 in the world- and the entire society-wide crisis. The analyses and the forecasts tried to target the location of the end of the crises, what would be the measure of the setback in production on one hand and on the other hand concerning our branch of business, what effects would the processes make on the freight market, what measure will the shrink be. On the basis of the forecasts, a two-digit economic performance depressions could be ensured and the 2 or 3 times shrinkage of the freight market on the basis of surveys measuring logistics services against the fluctuation of the economy could not be excluded.

Today may already be stated, that a nearly 10% setback occurred in the economy and that the freight market "only" decreased by this extent as well. The reason of the performance depression different from and favorable compared to the forecast may be that generally the participants of the production had already long ago started optimizing the logistics activities strongly, consequently any rationalizing or saving was not possible to be made by them. The other source of the decrease lower than expected, which does not reason more confidence, that there was no time and resource to accomplish, beyond the decrease and closing of the production units, more major structural transformations decreasing the freight performance. With the crises prolonged and with a new rock-bottom to occur, it may happen.

Considering that after Hungary joining the EU in 2004, with the liberation of the market a strong oversupply occurred in the international and by its effect in the domestic freight market and it still exists, it has been obvious that by the falling demand would cause a big number in the shutting down of vehicles, the bankrupts of enterprises. It was not only the carriage of goods that suffered a considerable loss, passenger transport also regressed. A number of workers traveling every day, fell short with the discontinuance of their working places and the vacation travel plans plunged to rather low in the households. In such situation the Hungarian road transport service providers are at a disadvantage towards the foreign ones because of their limited reserves and high withholds. It was distinguishable when the crisis broke out, that a number of the substantial sections of the prominently for the technical group important Agreement of 2008 could not be kept, although it was not the economic crises that caused this.

The Representation of Interest was in a difficult situation, because the technical advantages to be provided to the technical group could be only rejected by referring to superior interests and circumstances outside the government's competence. Besides, when the new crises managing government was established in the spring of 2009, the negotiations, concerning the provisions aiming the improvement of the freighters' competitiveness, were had to be and there was a possibility to re-construe. A number of encouraging sins showed; the withdrawal of the transportation from the economy portfolio (after seven years), the pragmatism of the government members coming from the economic sector and those declarations which stated that the government would locate the economic interests above the political ones. The result is miscellaneous but there are achievement, which the profession may be proud of. For the Hungarian Road Transport Association it was not an inconvenient situation as it always has been professional in the interest representation activities following the principle of giving the rightful consideration to the road transportation service provider technical group and scope of activities in the transportation profession. Not more, not less, considering it's technical features and it's not evadable aptitudes. This sharp demand and the justness of it is independent from the economic situation and from the political courses as well.

(resource: Magyar Közlekedés - Hungarian Transportation)

Preference for communal transportation

2010. június 30.

The Government will deal with the long-term strategy program of communal transportation this summer - stated Tamás Fellegi in his first interview as a minister. The leader of the portfolio said to Népszabadság daily newspaper, that the railways enjoy a priority in his plans, but he would like to set the new direction for the transformation of communal transportation as well. Mass dismissal is not to be expected but the lustration of the state owned companies is imminent. It will be followed by the securing the acceptance of the new strategies and the designation of the management. The new minister already decided in several personnel issues.

As we have already reported, János Fónagy as the Parliament state secretary, Pál Völner as the state secretary responsible for infrastructure and Zoltán Schváb as deputy state secretary responsible for transportation help the work of Tamás Fellegi. Gergely Horváth is the new CEO for The Hungarian State Holding Company, he had earlier been CEO for Betonút, and Keler Zrt. Erika Sárdi follows Zsolt Csaba Horváth as the Head of National Transport Authority. The MÁV Group will belong to The Hungarian State Holding Company, and it is said that NIF would belong to the state holding company as well.

The Ministry for National Development and Economy is the successor of The Ministry for Transportation, Broadcasting and Energy issues. PéterHónig, Lajos Oláh, Károly Antal and LajosCsepi left the Ministry with the government change. Minister TamásFellegi statedabout the replacement of staff, that "the political appointees obviously have to leave".The accounting the administration affects transportation and where the disadvantageous contracts concluded by the predecessors would be proved, everything would be done for intervention. The preparation for transformation of communal transportation has been started. The long-term strategy will record the advantages of communal transportation against individual transportation and inwardly the advantages of railways against public roads.

The development of the railway will enjoy a priority - emphasized Tamás Fellegi, and he added that the operation of closed branch lines will be examined. He considers it as legitimate, as yearly the railway costs Huf 350 billion for the State and closing 29 feeder lines barely made a 1 percent saving. Tamás Fellegi still as the managing director of Kapsch in Hungary, participated in a tender invitation for establishing usage proportionate charging system, which was withdrawn in the last moment. As a minister he considers establishing the usage proportionate charging system important. The new government also deals with this subject, but no decision has been delivered yet.